Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

WiFi Signals In Between Television Frequencies

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the will-this-work dept.

compgenius3 writes "The FCC unanimously voted today to allow wireless providers to use the frequencies between television stations to broadcast WiFi in rural areas. Broadcasters argue that this will cause interference on television stations but the FCC chairman says otherwise." Update: 05/18 23:40 GMT by T : compgenius3 points out NAB president Edward Fritts' skepticism of the plan, as reflected in this press release citing fears of intereference to over-the-air broadcasts.

2 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Good Move by randall_burns · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Commercial broadcasters haven't really done much for the spectrum they were given. IMHO there should be substantial taxes on commercial use of spectrum. Theoretically, it would seem that Wi-Fi could deliver much more content than is now done with the spectrum the broadcasters are using. Perhaps we ought to look at completely eliminating the television spectrum and replacing it with Wi-Fi.

  2. Re:darn tootin' Re:A valid concern by kandrewnet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am an ex-broadcast engineer and can guarantee that they aren't using the guard bands between TV stations - because there are no guard bands! Each channel butts up next to the last one.

    Interference is avoided by not assigning two adjacent channels in the same market.

    Television channels are 6Mhz wide. A Wi-Fi signal occupies 30Mhz so I'm guessing they will need 7 channels in a row with nothing broadcast (5 for the spectrum needed with 1 on each side to avoid interference).

    Interference avoidance is nothing new to broadcasters. Aside from television channels assigned they also have had to deal with microwave live trucks, satellite transmissions, etc.

    Andrew